The president’s ultimatum, issued via TruthSocial, extends beyond military threats to financial seizure. Trump stated that the United States would utilize Iranian funds currently held under American control to compensate for any damages to ships or cargo affected by the Houthi campaign. The declaration follows Houthi strikes on two Saudi tankers, an act that forced international shippers to abandon the route despite the continued passage of Chinese vessels.

Saudi Arabia, which relies on its Red Sea Yanbu port to export up to 5 million barrels of oil daily, faces a direct challenge as the Houthis enforce a self-declared naval blockade. Tehran has responded with its own defiance, with Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warning that global oil security remains tied to Iran’s interests. Ghalibaf insisted that the strait would not return to previous security conditions, effectively threatening the safety of energy infrastructure unless Western forces withdraw from the region.